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Monday, October 19, 2009

What Do You Wear While You Sew?

Even if you're sewing the fanciest evening gown, there is no need to dress up while sewing. In fact, I highly discourage that sort of thing.

In my opinion, the best thing to wear while sewing is whatever you slept in the night before. I'm modeling this look above, which includes my husband's pirate t-shirt and a pair of voile pajama shorts. This ensemble is best paired with fuzzy striped socks.Even if I come home from work and decide to sew before dinner, I immediately put on whatever I slept in the night before. Even if it has stains on it, as demonstrated above. I highly recommend this route.

The second option is to sew in your underwear! This is very practical, as you can do frequent fittings without a lot of fuss. You should close your curtains first, though.

The third option is to wear a white lab coat (clothing underneath optional), like they do in the Dior couture workrooms. This is perhaps overkill, but it might be fun to pretend that you're a head dressmaker in Paris.

I'm sure I'm missing some possibilities here. So, tell us: what do you wear while you sew?

49 comments:

I am glad to hear I am not the only one who sometimes sews in their underwear! It's just so much easier to jump in and out of your project that way.

(p.s. - I have been following your blog for a little while now, and I figured it was about time I got my own so I could finally comment on other people's entries. In short - love your work, keep it up!)

Hi Gertie. I know people who sew in their underwear - not for fitting purposes so much as because it's five minutes to eight and they're furiously finishing the dress they're planning to wear out to dinner that night .... so it's out of the machine, pulled on fast and they're out the door!

I too usually sew in my pj's. I find it easiest and I don't feel bad when I decide to use my pants as a pin cushion or if I have threads all over me. I did want to ask though about your dress form... its so professional! I don't really sew clothes because I don't have one and I have looked at the adjustable ones in my sewing store, but I can't bring myself to buy something that is so much plastic... and expensive plastic! Where did you get yours? Does she have a name? = )

Doesn't matter what I sew in, I must sew with a bra on. Shoot, I must do most things with a bra on. It's easier to try stuff on and do all the walking and squatting that I tend to do without a lot of clothes on.

I love this post--such a fun topic! I often wonder if other seamstresses do wacky things (like sew in their underwear) too, or if I'm just the oddball. haha! I usually opt for comfort:

- Comfy tshirt/tank and soft yoga pants. Things that are easy to take on and off if I'm doing a lot of fitting. Bonus is I can also comfortably sprawl out on the floor if I'm cutting out things! Plus, if it's a late night of sewing, all I have to do is crawl into bed and not change. haha!

- Comfortable dress. If I'm in one of my favorite, bum-around-the-house dresses, I don't mind sewing in those either. Tends to be a bit more of a hassle change out of, but if I'm squeezing in sewing before going out somewhere, I do what I have to. ;)

I think my most common sewing look incorporates favorite clothes that are no longer ok to wear out of the house but that I just can't get rid of yet. Like shirts with stains or that my husband threw in the dryer and are now too short for public consumption and the jeans with ENORMOUS holes and shreddin on the inner thighs. They're the most comfy jeans ever and I refuse to get rid of them, so I made a deal with my husband that they just won't ever leave the house.

Pajamas are a favorite of mine. If I take time to get dressed in the morning before starting to sew the sewing doesn't usually happen until after 12. I used to like to wear my long prairie skirt while I sewed. It made me feel old fashion while I worked on my 1950s Singer.

Haha! Yes! My pajamas if I just got up or after I come home i put on my old jazz pants and a t-shirt (so more pajamas but not what i slept in!) Comfy comfy comfy! Around the house that is usually what i go for. Though i do sew for employment as well so i do need to get dressed for that!

What a fun question! I also prefer to sew in my pjs, but I prefer to do most things at home in them. Sometimes when I am doing multiple fittings I'll sew in my underwear for a bit. I have a vintage Singer sewing book that makes a case for sewing in your pretty clothing with makeup and styled hair, but that just makes me laugh.

Well, here it depends on the weather. Although, I am lucky enough to have a stove in my sewing room. But it is usually a tee and pants or shorts. Although, I leave sweats in the closet of the sewing room in case I get cold.

What a fun question! If I am sewing in my basment, where most of my sewing setup is located, I sew in full dress. It is just to cold down there for me!If I am upstairs, the sky is the limit as to what I'm wearing. yesterday it was purple shirt, white socks, and red knit pants. I took a quilting class a long time ago from a super funny lady. She was sewing in the upstairs part of her house. She broke a needle and being concerned for her eyes, she put on a scuba mask for protection. (it was handy) She got overheated and took most of her clothes off. THen she need more traction for moving her quilt around and grabbed her dish washing gloves. Now, THAT outfit makes a statement!

I usually start out in whatever I've worn that day, but gradually I start to lose items of clothing. Until I'm down to my underpants (like so many others.) It's just such a bother putting on all of my clothes after every little trying-on.

My personal favorite is a pair of linen yoga pants and a t-shirt with my super soft knit kimono over it all. I've been known to end up in underwear by the end of it all myself...perhaps when I have a real sewing room, I can put up a fancy partition with a mirror so I can do fitting without exposing myself. ;)

Well, it seems I'm overdressed compared to most people here. I have roommates, so sewing in my underwear and a bra is rarely an option for me. I usually wear a tshirt and jeans. Maybe this is why I have fitting problems so often -- I don't stop and try it on enough. ;)

Wow. I was beginning to question my status as a "lady" because I sew so much in my undies. However, I also have gym shoes on too since my presser foot has a tendancy to slip out from under my feet. I must look like a goof, but I don't care!

Me too with the bra & shorts in summer for comfort & ease of fitting; so funny so many do too! But due to weather lately, it's been more like 2-3 pairs of leggings/yoga pants, big woolly socks & a few layers of shirts/sweater, which makes fittings much more time-consuming and brrrrr!!!

I'm usually barefoot and in PJs. I have an old sewing book form the 40s that recommends getting dressed up--lipstick seems important--fpr sewing. They think if you are making something glam, you should look glam.

I am in total agreement with you on all points. I'm usually in gym shorts and an oversized tee, or leggings and a tee, or just my underwear. Me and my family call what you describe "ready to roll". It certainally works for me.

I also thought I was the only one! I always start out with the best intentions of staying clothed, but end up in my underwear and bra halfway through! It got to the point where I tilted a full length mirror next to the sewing machine because I spent so much time leaping up and running into to the bathroom!

Well, I have three young boys, so remaining fully dressed is a must!!!!I must say that I am amazed at how many sew in their underwear!I am one of those old fashioned girls who gets up every morning, dresses somewhat decently, and "fixes up" as my grandmother would say. Lately, my at home favorites have been the Jalie tops I have made. (Okay, become a little obsessed with making!)

I just left my sewing room and I have on my night shirt and a pair of sweats. I also can't sew with shoes on...I'm barefoot in my sewing room...what about you guys...do you wear shoes in your sewing room.

but then, my partner and I are firm believers in changing into house clothes when we get home, and we don't wear shoes in the apartment...

I think it's funny that in such a dangerous environment - dropped pins, steamy irons - we go about totally unprotected. I mean, you'd think after the third or fourth (or fortieth) time of stepping on a pin, I'd at least put on a pair of slippers!

I usually START OFF fully clothed, but am soon in varying stages of undress. Jeans and bra, or tshirt and underpants. I sorta don't remember to put the clothes back on after I'm trying on the in-progress garment. My fella thinks its hilarious/annoying- he keeps finding cast-off clothing in different rooms and he picks it up because he's a neatnik... but I tell him, how I am sposed to remember to put an article of clothing back on if he's stuck it back in a drawer?

Underwear, cotton kimono without closure (very confortable, keep wearm, can be use as pincushion, can be take on/off without thinking of it, huby like to see me sewing and my little girl allaways don't care and my baby boy is young enough (mum breast for breastfeedin, mum kimono to play with it ;-) Nice blog, thanks to share!

I start out sewing in my "play clothes" - jeans and a top. But that sometimes changes. If I'm making a blouse or dress, after I try it on , my top may stay off and I end up sewing in jeans and a bra! Unless, of course it's cold!

Funny to read how most people sew in comfortable clothes. It sounds logical too. But I don't do that. i mostly sew fully clothed, in whatever I am wearing that day. Don't what it is, but I just feel more active when I am dressed like I can run outside within a second. Althoug I can imagine it is far more practical to sew in your lingerie, with fitting and all. Maybe I should consider that. But then I first should make some new curtains for my sewing attic!

I'm so relieved to read that so many of you end up in undies too. I start out sewing in whatever I am already wearing. I don't have a wardrobe change before sewing. However, if I'm sewing something for myself I end up changing into gym pants and a t-shirt if I'm feeling like being modest. Otherwise, it's just undies for me. And I always feel a bit strange about it, but I tell myself it's immensely practical.

I like to sew in my favorite burgundy- colored tights and a long tee shirt. I live in Norway and it gets chilly running around my studio in just my undies. That said, this cute ensemble has been labeled my 'sexy sewing outfit' and I refuse to deviate.

Bare feet. Socks, maybe if I'm wearing the compression stockings I'm supposed to wear. Usually my wide-legged jeans (sooo comfy) and a t-shirt, too. I took lots of ceramics in college, and I threw on the electric wheel barefooted, too. Got blessed out royally for it but it's just easier to feel what I'm doing if I'm not wearing shoes.

Have read your entire blog up to here, Gertie, without comment, but will chime in and add my piece: I must wear a certain bra that I had made, but then I REDRESS into my nightshirt and throw on a pair of flannel pants. I tried blue jeans, and it just doesn't seem right. I have slipper socks too, because its cold in here, but shoes or sneakers just seem overdressed. Funny thing about the bra...it's really a bit too tight, but I think it fits me the best, so I feel it gives the truest "fit" when trying on happens...

I'm thrilled to hear I'm not the only one to end up with ironing burns in embarrassing places (upper thigh, lower back) from working in my underwear. And ironing on the floor. Then there's the time I dropped the casorole dish on my lap taking it out of the oven. . . Scars fade.

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